Creamfluff's Hope

*/\* Chapter Twenty-five */\*

Blizzardspots limped around the camp, checking on her Clanmates to make sure they were doing what she had asked. Creampaw didn't want to be confined to the medicine den and had told Silverleaf she'd get in his way of treating the others, so she was allowed to sit outside of the den with Softpaw.

Aloeheart and Rainspeck were cleaning each other's wounds with Cloverpetal and Nightmoon doing the same along with all the other pairs of mates. Juniperseed and Heatstep were preparing Acornstar and Mistpuddle for vigil. Juniperseed gently draped Acornstar's crooked tail over his nose while Mistpuddle positioned him to look as if he was curled up asleep in his nest. Mistpuddle laid next to the dead leader in the same position.

Blizzardspots was now watching the two warriors while Butterflypaw rushed over to the two fallen warriors with lavender and mint in her mouth.

"This is to make them better for the vigil," she mewed as she began to place chewed up mint leaves and lavender stems in the tom's pelts. The ginger she-cat placed mint leaves and lavender behind Acornstar and Mistpuddle's ears before quickly returning to the medicine den to help her mentor.

Creampaw stared at the two fallen warriors. They looked as if they were simply sleeping in the middle of the camp. Their wounds had been cleaned and their pelts were glossy and slicked back with water, and a small amount of cobweb had been used to cover up the worst of the wounds.

"You never would've known they died," Creampaw murmured as the dawn light began seeping into camp. She hadn't slept since before moonhigh; her eyelids drooped, and she felt like she had no energy to even speak.

"When will Blizzardspots go to the Starpool with Silverleaf?" Softpaw asked, not hearing Creampaw's murmur. "Hopefully she goes tonight. We need a leader more than ever."

Creampaw nodded in agreement. "I didn't even know Acornstar was on his last life. He looked perfectly fine when he was alive. He looked young and old at the same time, too."

"He was an apprentice when Crimsonbird was a warrior," Softpaw meowed. "Heatstep told me that."

"So, he wasn't much older than an elder," Creampaw replied. 

"He probably is the age of an elder," Softpaw purred.

Creampaw nodded but let out a sigh. "Before Cedarstar and his patrol left, they claimed Moss Rocks for their own. We've lost territory that Acornstar tried so hard to keep. Did he die for nothing?"

"Obviously not!" Softpaw hissed. "I refuse to believe that. When a warrior dies, they die for a reason, whether it's in a battle or battling against a sickness."

"You sound like a senior warrior who's older than an elder!" Creampaw nudged Softpaw with her paw. Softpaw laughed and flicked his tail in embarresment.

"That's what Beetleflight told me when I was a kit," he replied with a smile.

"Are you friends with every cat in the Clan or do they enjoy sharing gossip with you?" Creampaw joked. It felt good to share a laugh and a smile with a friend, but behind the laughs and smiles were worries for what lay ahead of MistClan. Blizzardspots seemed too caught up in making sure her Clanmates were okay then heading for the Starpool to claim her new role as leader and her nine lives.

"I hope Cedarstar lost a life when he was fighting Acornstar," Creampaw jumped into a different topic. 

"I don't think so. Remember how Nightmoon said he had two other cats helping him?" Softpaw looked at Creampaw.

"It was three," she corrected him teasingly.

"Whatever. Two, three, same thing."

Creampaw laughed at this and Softpaw purred in enjoyment. Creampaw felt her belly rumble with sudden hunger, and she looked toward the prey pile only to see it empty. Blizzardspots needed to appoint a deputy to organize patrols before she left for the Starpool, hopefully even before moonhigh. That was part of the warrior code.

But the gray and white she-cat limped around camp, checking on every warrior to see if they'd visited Silverleaf. The only cats who hadn't been treated were Heatstep and Juniperseed who were walking to the medicine den the second Blizzardspots came to check on them.

When Juniperseed and Heatstep ducked into the den, Silverleaf instructed them to lay down in a nest and clean their wounds while he spoke to Blizzardspots. Creampaw guessed the conversation didn't have to be private for he was speaking to Blizzardspots right in front of her and Softpaw.

"Blizzardspots, the fresh-kill pile is empty, and some cats are getting hungry after all their fighting," the silver tabby told his new leader.

"I know. I'll send out patrols in a bit," she told him.

"No, Blizzardspots. You need to appoint a deputy this instant." Silverleaf looked serious. Blizzardspots tried to speak but Silverleaf hushed her and continued. "I'm your medicine cat, a leader's guidance and healer. You need to listen to me."

Blizzardspots was quiet for a moment before nodding. "Fine. I will listen and appoint a deputy along with travel to the Starpool tonight. But I'm not sure who."

"Pick someone who is strong and wise, like Mapleleaf. She barely had any wounds on her pelt." Silverleaf mewed. "Or maybe a senior warrior, like Windycloud. He'd know what he's doing. And remember, Blizzardspots; you aren't our deputy anymore, but you are our leader. You have many more responsibilities, but you can always come to me for guidance."

Blizzardspots took this in for a moment before nodding. "Got it. Thank you, Silverleaf."

"Anytime," the silver tabby smiled and touched his tail tip to her shoulder before disappearing into his den. Blizzardspots limped over to the Highstone and sat beneath it, her hind leg too lame to climb. She hadn't been treated yet, again insisting on seeing to her Clanmate's conditions first.

"Cats of MistClan, I have an announcement to make," the gray and white she-cat called. Cats slowly stopped what they were doing to either turn and look at their new leader or to hobble over to her due to their injuries from the battle. Silverleaf and Butterflypaw had treated everyone, luckily having enough supplies to do so. 

Rainspeck came over to Creampaw and let her lean on her shoulder to take some of the apprentice's weight as they walked over to stand in front of the Highstone as Blizzardspots began to speak.

"As you all know, Acornstar has joined StarClan by now along with Mistpuddle," the former deputy meowed. "Hopefully they find peace and happiness in the stars. I've decided that I will travel to the Starpool with Silverleaf tonight, too."

Mrrows of approval and good luck came from the MistClan cats as Blizzardspots continued.

"But we have gotten low on prey, and to stay healthy, we need to eat. I will also need a cat to keep the Clan in order while I'm at the Starpool. Therefore, I have thought about this matter and decided on my deputy." Blizzardspots's gaze drifted through the crowd without landing on one particular cat. 

Quiet guesses of who the new deputy would be rose into the air like departing fog. Creampaw looked around at the Clan. Maybe the deputy would be Windycloud or Aloeheart. They both seemed like a reasonable choice for the deputy. They were reliable, trustworthy, and loyal MistClan warriors. If any cat could keep the Clan in check, it would be Windycloud or Aloeheart.

Blizzardspots's voice broke through the guessing. "I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of MistClan is..."

(Cliffhanger timeeee

So, I might start updating Creamfluff's Hope later than usual because 1) I'm working on another book at the same time [in my drafts] and 2) I might forget about the book until nighttime. 

I also might not update the book until tmrw and leave you with a cliffhanger.

But thanks for everyone who's read the book so far! I don't want to sound cringey or anything but thanks a lot!)